"Jarno is a winner" - Lotto-Intermarché fully behind leader Widar at Vuelta a Espana as team name line-up with general classification goal
CyclingMonday, 17 August 2026 at 20:00
Lotto-Intermarché are backing young gun Jarno Widar at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana, naming him their leader as they prepare to support him in a general classification push in his first Grand Tour.
The 20-year-old in his first season at ProTeam level, but has seen his campaign interrupted by a serious knee injury in training after a promising start to the season at the Volta ao Algarve. Widar returned at GP Gippingen to finish sixth before preparing for his first three-week race at Clasica San Sebastian and Vuelta a Burgos.
With an ambitious line-up focused around the underage sensation, the Belgian team hope to finish in the top five in the general classification, preaching that an ambitious mindset can deliver success right from the off.
“Jarno is a winner, and that is the mindset he takes with him to Monaco. We are aiming for a stage win," Sports director Mario Aerts said on the team's website.
"At the same time, he– and we as a team– could already be very proud if he manages to finish in the top five over the next three weeks. We deliberately don’t want to set a specific GC target. This is Widar’s very first Grand Tour."
Widar backed up by ambitious young squad
Noting his unproven claim towards a three-week race, Aerts sees a chance to gain experience and a willingness to take a Grand Tour on face value one day at a time as the big goals heading to the Monaco start.
"He has never raced for more than eight consecutive days before, so there is still a lot for him to learn. He needs to discover how his body responds to three weeks of racing and how he recovers from one stage to the next.
"The most important thing is that he gains experience, without pressure. We will take the Vuelta day by day and see where that takes us.”
Widar will have Luca Van Boven, Lorenzo Rota, Reuben Thompson, Roel van Sintmaartensdijk and Lars Craps in support. Meanwhile, or the sprint stages, Lotto-Intermarché brings Steffen De Schuyteneer and Vito Braet.
The team will also wear a special pink jersey for the race, avoiding the potential clash with the race's iconic red leader's jersey - ensuring the young team stand out from many of the other teams at the race.
Lotto-Intermarché
Lotto-Intermarché at La Vuelta
| Cyclist | Nation |
| Jarno Widar | Belgium |
| Lars Craps | Belgium |
| Lorenzo Rota | Italy |
| Luca Van Boven | Belgium |
| Reuben Thompson | New Zealand |
| Roel van Sintmaartensdijk | Netherlands |
| Steffen De Schuyteneer | Belgium |
| Vito Braet | Belgium |
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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